HSY3701
Assignment 3 Semester 2 2025
2 2025
Unique Number:
Due date: 7 October 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC 1: CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE MAIN FACTORS THAT PROMOTED THE
TRANSITION FROM MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS TO VARIOUS FORMS OF
AUTHORITARIANISM IN AFRICA UNTIL THE 1970S. ..............................................3
TOPIC 2: EXPLAIN WHY HIV/AIDS HAS SPREAD SO RAPIDLY THROUGH SUB-
SAHARAN AFRICA AND WHY ITS EFFECTS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING. ........11
TOPIC 3: DISCUSS HOW THE FORMATION OF THE AFRICAN UNITY (AU) IN 2012,
WHICH REPLACED THE ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY (OAU), USHERED IN A
NEW ERA IN AFRICAN CONTINENTAL POLITICS. PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIAL
OVERVIEW OF THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF BOTH THE AU AND THE OAU
BETWEEN 1963 AND 2010 IN MODERN AFRICAN POLITICS. .............................20
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen as a
replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged to perform
their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information in
these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content. The buyer is
responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when applying it to their
assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's policies
regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and sources of
inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may be considered
academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences arising from
the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or any other negative
consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC 1: CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE MAIN FACTORS THAT PROMOTED THE
TRANSITION FROM MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS TO VARIOUS FORMS OF
AUTHORITARIANISM IN AFRICA UNTIL THE 1970S. ............................................. 3
TOPIC 2: EXPLAIN WHY HIV/AIDS HAS SPREAD SO RAPIDLY THROUGH SUB-
SAHARAN AFRICA AND WHY ITS EFFECTS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING. ....... 11
TOPIC 3: DISCUSS HOW THE FORMATION OF THE AFRICAN UNITY (AU) IN
2012, WHICH REPLACED THE ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY (OAU),
USHERED IN A NEW ERA IN AFRICAN CONTINENTAL POLITICS. PROVIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL OVERVIEW OF THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF BOTH THE
AU AND THE OAU BETWEEN 1963 AND 2010 IN MODERN AFRICAN POLITICS.
................................................................................................................................. 20
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
TOPIC 1: CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE MAIN FACTORS THAT PROMOTED THE
TRANSITION FROM MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS TO VARIOUS FORMS OF
AUTHORITARIANISM IN AFRICA UNTIL THE 1970S.
1. Introduction
The decades following African independence were marked by high hopes of
democracy, unity, and progress. However, by the 1970s, most African countries had
transitioned from multiparty democratic systems to one-party states, military regimes,
or personal dictatorships. This shift was not a coincidence but a complex process
influenced by political, economic, social, and historical factors. The main factors that
promoted authoritarianism included weak political foundations, ethnic divisions,
economic dependency, neo-colonial pressures, and the influence of Cold War
politics. Additionally, the ambitions of political elites and the fragility of postcolonial
institutions created fertile ground for the rise of personal rule and military
intervention.
To understand this transformation, it is important to clarify key concepts. One-party
rule refers to a political system where a single political party controls the state and
suppresses or bans opposition parties. Dictatorship is a form of governance where
power is concentrated in the hands of one ruler or a small elite, often maintained
through coercion and repression. Civil war refers to violent internal conflict within a
country between groups competing for political control.
This essay discusses the key factors that led to the rise of authoritarian regimes in
Africa between the 1960s and 1970s, focusing on the weakness of democratic
institutions, the rise of patronage and personal rule, the role of the military, economic
challenges, and the influence of external actors. Examples will be drawn from case
studies including Ghana, Uganda, Zaire, and Tanzania to illustrate how these
processes unfolded across the continent (Nugent, 2004; Arnold, 2005; Cooper,
2002).
2. The Weak Foundations of Postcolonial States
2.1 Colonial Legacy and Artificial Borders
Assignment 3 Semester 2 2025
2 2025
Unique Number:
Due date: 7 October 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC 1: CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE MAIN FACTORS THAT PROMOTED THE
TRANSITION FROM MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS TO VARIOUS FORMS OF
AUTHORITARIANISM IN AFRICA UNTIL THE 1970S. ..............................................3
TOPIC 2: EXPLAIN WHY HIV/AIDS HAS SPREAD SO RAPIDLY THROUGH SUB-
SAHARAN AFRICA AND WHY ITS EFFECTS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING. ........11
TOPIC 3: DISCUSS HOW THE FORMATION OF THE AFRICAN UNITY (AU) IN 2012,
WHICH REPLACED THE ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY (OAU), USHERED IN A
NEW ERA IN AFRICAN CONTINENTAL POLITICS. PROVIDE A SUBSTANTIAL
OVERVIEW OF THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF BOTH THE AU AND THE OAU
BETWEEN 1963 AND 2010 IN MODERN AFRICAN POLITICS. .............................20
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen as a
replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged to perform
their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information in
these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content. The buyer is
responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when applying it to their
assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's policies
regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and sources of
inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may be considered
academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences arising from
the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or any other negative
consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TOPIC 1: CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE MAIN FACTORS THAT PROMOTED THE
TRANSITION FROM MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS TO VARIOUS FORMS OF
AUTHORITARIANISM IN AFRICA UNTIL THE 1970S. ............................................. 3
TOPIC 2: EXPLAIN WHY HIV/AIDS HAS SPREAD SO RAPIDLY THROUGH SUB-
SAHARAN AFRICA AND WHY ITS EFFECTS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATING. ....... 11
TOPIC 3: DISCUSS HOW THE FORMATION OF THE AFRICAN UNITY (AU) IN
2012, WHICH REPLACED THE ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY (OAU),
USHERED IN A NEW ERA IN AFRICAN CONTINENTAL POLITICS. PROVIDE A
SUBSTANTIAL OVERVIEW OF THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF BOTH THE
AU AND THE OAU BETWEEN 1963 AND 2010 IN MODERN AFRICAN POLITICS.
................................................................................................................................. 20
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
TOPIC 1: CRITICALLY DISCUSS THE MAIN FACTORS THAT PROMOTED THE
TRANSITION FROM MULTIPARTY SYSTEMS TO VARIOUS FORMS OF
AUTHORITARIANISM IN AFRICA UNTIL THE 1970S.
1. Introduction
The decades following African independence were marked by high hopes of
democracy, unity, and progress. However, by the 1970s, most African countries had
transitioned from multiparty democratic systems to one-party states, military regimes,
or personal dictatorships. This shift was not a coincidence but a complex process
influenced by political, economic, social, and historical factors. The main factors that
promoted authoritarianism included weak political foundations, ethnic divisions,
economic dependency, neo-colonial pressures, and the influence of Cold War
politics. Additionally, the ambitions of political elites and the fragility of postcolonial
institutions created fertile ground for the rise of personal rule and military
intervention.
To understand this transformation, it is important to clarify key concepts. One-party
rule refers to a political system where a single political party controls the state and
suppresses or bans opposition parties. Dictatorship is a form of governance where
power is concentrated in the hands of one ruler or a small elite, often maintained
through coercion and repression. Civil war refers to violent internal conflict within a
country between groups competing for political control.
This essay discusses the key factors that led to the rise of authoritarian regimes in
Africa between the 1960s and 1970s, focusing on the weakness of democratic
institutions, the rise of patronage and personal rule, the role of the military, economic
challenges, and the influence of external actors. Examples will be drawn from case
studies including Ghana, Uganda, Zaire, and Tanzania to illustrate how these
processes unfolded across the continent (Nugent, 2004; Arnold, 2005; Cooper,
2002).
2. The Weak Foundations of Postcolonial States
2.1 Colonial Legacy and Artificial Borders
